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The start of the new year offers more than a chance to listen to attempts at witty banter from freezing cable TV hosts in Times Square or to watch a local fireworks display with a party favor in hand. January 1 marks the first of 365 days—or 366 in Leap Year 2020—of opportunities to make small and big changes.

Whether you want to shed pounds or disrupt an industry, the following seven books can help you get closer to keeping your resolutions. If you don’t have time to read them all at once, why not space them out over the first few months of the year? By the midpoint, you’ll be in a good position to ramp up toward meeting your goals.

Enlightened Leadership Publishing

Be True: A Personal Guide to Becoming Your Most Authentic Self by Julie Rosenberg, MD

The topic of transparency in business has trended for years, but until people learn to live authentically, they often have difficulty being transparent. In Be True, Julie Rosenberg leverages what she’s learned on the yoga mat to assist readers in managing tension, becoming stronger communicators and seeing the glass as perpetually half full. I found great meaning in the prompts in this book, which allowed me to thoughtfully ruminate on some deep topics. I’ve earmarked numerous pages, and I believe more are destined for the same treatment.

When well-respected financial expert podcasters publish a book, it’s worth a peek. In Choose FI, Chris Mamula, Brad Barrett and Jonathan Mendonsa extract tidbits of information from their show and arrange it throughout the pages. After reading their foundational six stages of financial independence at the beginning, I found myself jumping back and forth through chapters depending upon my next question or simply out of raw curiosity. I’m philosophically aligned with the authors when it comes to putting passion over profit, as long as it’s done with wisdom.

McGraw-Hill Education

The Time Cleanse: A Proven System to Eliminate Wasted Time, Realize Your Full Potential, and Reinvest in What Matters Most by Steven Griffith

Talk about an eye opener: I have been leaning on time management strategies I learned as a young entrepreneur. Yet as Steven Griffith points out, they no longer apply in the modern world. Instead, we need to rethink how to maximize time by utilizing technology without getting sucked into temptations like Internet rabbit holes. After trying just a few of his suggestions, I “found” extra time to read more books to share! I can’t wait to further whittle away minutes and add precious hours to my week.

Thomas Nelson

The Joy of Missing Out: Live More by Doing Less by Tonya Dalton

Ever gone to bed feeling like you tackled only a fraction of your to-do list? Tonya Dalton’s book shows readers how to make the most of each inherently abundant day without getting overwhelmed in the process. I’ve had plenty of times where the mountain of responsibilities ahead seemed overpowering. The Joy of Missing Out provides a guide to systematically eating the proverbial elephant one bite at a time without losing your sense of mental balance. Hopefully, I’ll sleep better knowing I did what mattered, not fretting about what didn’t.

McGraw-Hill Education

Ditch the Act: Reveal the Surprising Power of the Real You for Greater Success by Leonard Kim and Ryan Foland

Imposter syndrome is all too real. From CEOs to community service volunteers, people everywhere feel they have to put on a mask just to get through the day. However, Leonard Kim and Ryan Foland explain why bucking the trend and dropping the disguise paves the way for incredible freedom and unparalleled success. In my executive coaching role, I’ve dealt with individuals who felt lost because they made up a character and couldn’t keep up the pretense. I may have to recommend this book from now on as homework for clients in similar situations.

Harper Wave

The F*ck It Diet: Eating Should Be Easy by Caroline Dooner

I welcome well-placed irreverence, which is why Caroline Dooner immediately drew me in with her writing. Although she takes a humorous stance when it comes to battles with what we eat, she peppers The F*ck It Diet with scientifically backed information. If you’ve ever guilted yourself about eating cake at midnight or scarfing down a second helping of lasagna, devour this book and ease your emotional heartburn. Dooner opened my eyes to seeing nutrition in a new light. In the coming year, I hope to transform my relationship with weight and food.

Archangel Ink

The Balance Point: Master the Work-Life Balance, Love What You Do, and Become an Unstoppable Entrepreneur by Jordan Ring

You have a personal life. You also have a professional life. Why rely on a cookie-cutter formula to find harmony between the two? The Balance Point helps you uncover the perfect ratio between Office You and Home You based on your personality and life goals. As someone who constantly moves between both spheres, I found Jordan Ring’s advice a refreshing approach to the work-life balance problem. I’m moving toward my ideal “sweet spot” and have already felt the difference in my energy and productivity. Future Me will be glad!

I co-founded Wild Creations in 2007 and quickly built the startup toy company into one of the fastest-growing companies in the US. I have been a finalist for EY’s

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I co-founded Wild Creations in 2007 and quickly built the startup toy company into one of the fastest-growing companies in the US. I have been a finalist for EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year twice and recognized with over 40 awards for innovative products. Recently, I was named one of the world’s top 100 business bloggers, and I am a regular contributor on entrepreneurship, management, and leadership to top business publications. I’m now the Head Coach at Power Coaching and Consulting, a rapidly growing global executive coaching and training firm in Washington, D.C. My second bestselling book, The Entrepreneurship Book of Actions, was published by McGraw-Hill and is in bookstores now.